AMEX Vice President Mary Ellen Jelenek caught up with Billboard's Lyndsey Havens at Billboard Women in Music 2024.
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00:00 We are here at Women in Music with Amex VP Mary Allen Jelinek. How's it going tonight?
00:05 Oh, it's great. We're so thrilled to be here.
00:07 Yeah, well it's amazing. It's our 10th year of partnership with Amex, making American Express our longest running partner for Billboard Women in Music.
00:14 So, how is Amex showing up this year and how has Amex always shown up for this event?
00:18 Look, we're so thrilled to be here to celebrate all the amazing women in the industry.
00:25 Excited to celebrate our 10 year anniversary together. We've been able to do some great things.
00:31 We're showing up with amazing assets for our card members, exclusive access and then some great benefits on site.
00:37 And also we're just thrilled to present the award to Young Miko tonight as well.
00:43 Young Miko is getting our Impact Award. Is there a woman who has made an impact on your life, your career that you can think of?
00:49 Oh my gosh, of course. I mean, I'd have to start with my mom, right?
00:53 She's such a strong woman who always found a way and always figured things out.
00:58 So she's always been a real inspiration for me.
01:01 Amex has such a long history of really connecting fans and bringing them closer to the music that they love.
01:06 So what are some other ways outside of Women in Music that Amex shows up in the music space?
01:11 So look, we always start with our card members as the center of all we do, right?
01:16 And our membership model and making sure that what we're bringing to the marketplace and for our card members is exceptional value for those card members.
01:26 And I think, you know, one of the things we did this past year was a partnership with Blackpink.
01:30 We first rolled out exclusive merchandise for our card members for them at Coachella, then again at British Summertime.
01:37 And then did a number of pop-ups from Tokyo to New York to London.
01:43 And it really brought that unique value to the Amex card members.
01:46 They got something extra special because they were with Amex.
01:49 So that's what we're trying to do with all of our partnerships.
01:52 I wear my Blackpink Amex Coachella shirt all the time.
01:55 I love to hear that. Thank you.
01:57 It's one of my favorites.
01:58 So how else does Amex innovate when it comes to card members in the music space?
02:03 Look, innovation is so core to all we do.
02:05 And I think what we've done in music, which has been particularly interesting, is we've made sure that we're developing relationships directly with artists.
02:14 And they're incredible teams so that we co-create.
02:17 And when you co-create, it's really about something special about the artist, something unique for American Express.
02:22 And we bring that together so that when that Amex card member goes to that event, they say, like, this is like really different.
02:29 And like, wow, I'm so glad I'm with Amex.
02:31 I think you were able to join us at the Olivia Rodrigo concert.
02:35 I sure was.
02:36 Right? And that's like the perfect example, right?
02:38 We partnered with Olivia.
02:39 We knew that she wanted to do something at that venue, at the Ace Theater.
02:44 Partnered with her team and, like, brought that card member event to life, which was, like, just so exciting.
02:51 And I do believe the card members who were there that night left saying, like, wow, this was really incredible and just so special.
02:57 Because she sang but then also told the story and the inspiration behind her music, which those are those magical moments that we want to bring to life.
03:05 Yeah, it's an elevated concert.
03:07 I got my Olivia Rodrigo matcha.
03:08 I was very happy.
03:09 Oh, my God.
03:10 So good.
03:11 That's music to my ears.
03:12 So tell me a little bit about what it means to be a woman working in music and entertainment and what advice you have for other women looking to break into this field.
03:19 Sure.
03:20 Look, I mean, I think it's -- I feel a tremendous responsibility in making sure that I'm empowering other women, right?
03:25 I feel fortunate to work for American Express, where we have 100% pay equity.
03:29 We have a vibrant women's interest network.
03:32 But, you know, when I think about music, I am backed here tonight and in all we do at the industry by an incredible team of actually all women in our MX music team.
03:42 And you know many of them.
03:44 So they are my inspiration, right?
03:47 They bring to life amazing programs where they are just -- their innovation, their creativity, the way they think about what the artist needs and what our card members need and bringing those things together, they're really creating magic.
04:00 And so I will accept an award, you know, tonight, but really it's for American Express and it's for the whole team that I'm just so proud to be a part of.
04:09 And, look, then they lift other -- I lift them up, they lift other women up, and that's really what it's all about.
04:14 Yeah, the cycle.
04:15 And then just my last one for you.
04:17 How does Amex empower women all year round, not just tonight, but every other day of the year?
04:21 Oh, look, as I said, I think we've got an amazing foundation of empowering women at American Express.
04:27 We do that in pay equity, a women's interest network.
04:30 We do it really in all of the activities we bring to life, obviously in music, but in sports.
04:35 And, you know, as a leader at the company, I really feel it my responsibility to lift other women up.
04:41 It's one of the most satisfying parts of my job, right?
04:44 I'm a mother of two daughters, so I do it for the amazing women I work with and also for, like, that next generation.
04:51 Yeah, yeah, it's amazing.
04:53 Well, congratulations, and thank you so much for being here and have fun tonight.
04:56 Oh, my gosh, lovely to be here. Thank you so much, Lindsay.
04:58 Lindsay.
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